Caring Greatly

In this episode, Dr. Solomon and I discuss the impact of poor practice design on the mental health and well-being of nurses. We delve into the specific trauma of the pandemic, and the need for system-level support and changes to overcome the “tyranny of individual responsibility” that is too often attached to mental well-being. We look at the need to include nurses in system decision processes and...

In this episode, Dr. Pettit and I talk about how advances in cancer treatment have increased survivorship, but also resulted in patients living long enough to experience the long-term side effects of both primary and adjuvant therapies. Often these impact survivors’ physical, emotional, and even financial and social well-being. Dr. Pettit and her team conduct and support research and innovation th...

In this episode, Dr. Ideker and I dig deep into her team’s work on EHR optimization to ensure that the EHR works for clinicians and not the other way around. In 2020, after rapidly standing up telehealth infrastructure in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Ideker and her team identified four key areas of focus for EHR improvement: orders redesign, documentation, best practice and medication al...

In this episode, Dr. Heineberg and I look at how the default tendencies of the brain can undermine compassion and resilience, especially in times of extraordinary stress such as the COVID-19 pandemic. We delve into the ways that technology can help extend access to mental health resources, while reinforcing social connections that support well-being. Finally, Dr. Heineberg outlines the importance...

In this episode, Mr. Segall and I talk about the interconnectedness of wellness and process improvement, particularly at this time when team members have experienced such intense stress and trauma and when staffing shortages are rampant. We delve into the need to integrate well-being into the daily work and operations of the health system so that team members have a chance to debrief and begin hea...

In this episode, Dr. Collins and I talk about how responses to the COVID-19 crisis put stress on nurses in a way that will have long-term implications for individuals and the profession. We delve into the challenges that arise when seasoned professionals must shift from situations in which they can draw on ingrained expertise to ones in which they are relatively inexperienced – in other words, mov...

In this episode, Ms. Smith-Hill and I discuss the challenges of providing support to loved ones receiving care during the pandemic. We talk about the importance of strong communication, and the emotional impact of feeling disconnected. Finally, we look ahead to how family support will evolve as the pandemic subsides.

In this episode, Dr. Ranney and I talk about what it takes to tackle seemingly intractable problems in healthcare. We talk about the art of building grass-roots coalitions, and the role of leadership in creating environments in which innovation can prosper. We close with a look at the lessons from the pandemic that Dr. Ranney hopes we will carry forward into a post-pandemic world.

In this episode, Dr. Fullerton and I discuss her experience as a woman of color and foreign-born student as she has pursued her medical education. We examine issues of structural racism she has encountered and look at the importance of speaking up. Finally, we delve into the origins of #MedGradWishList and the vulnerability – and power – of asking for help.

In this episode of the Caring Greatly podcast, Ms. Grosklags and Dr. Maples share insights into how to have difficult conversations with patients, and why these skills of compassion, presence, listening, and partnering with patients are essential to driving positive outcomes for clinicians and patients alike at all points of the care journey. We look at the ways leaders are using Ms. Grosklags’s f...

In this episode, Mr. Reynolds and I discuss the ways that an internal culture of belonging helps to promote equitable health outcomes. We look at ways that leaders can help create structures of accountability for health equity and belonging, and at the role of technology in helping to proactively identify opportunities to improve equity and belonging both inside and outside the organization. We cl...

In this episode, Dr. Bright and I talk about the emotional journey that frontline care team members have experienced as they went from fear and uncertainty to reckoning with injustice, through a brief respite in the summer to a rising national caseload through the fall and the holidays. We look at the ways that team members have supported one another individually and across organizations, and we l...

In this episode, Ms. Drane and I talk about the impact caregiving has on caregivers’ well-being. We look at the challenges and joys of caregiving and the kinds of support that is often available but unknown. We examine how COVID-19 has changed the role and visibility of caregiving, and we look ahead to future transformations that start with empathy.

In this episode, Dr. Dimond and I talk about the challenges of ensuring team member safety both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. We discuss the critical role of communication in providing a lifeline to security resources and in connecting care team members across disciplines and locations, which is equally critical – especially when infection control protocols prevent easy mobility. We loo...

In this episode, Dr. Slominski and I talk about how her focus on clinical experience has shifted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time we spoke, New Mexico was in the midst of a surge of infections that was putting strain on team members, patients, families, and the community. We delved specifically into the concept of Code Lavender, a program for emotional support that Presbyterian ha...

In this episode, Dr. Jenike and I talk about how his work as a chief well-being officer has evolved, and how the COVID-19 pandemic is putting increased pressure on the well-being and mental health of team members. Dr. Jenike outlines how Novant Health is supporting team members, and why continued support is essential for the functioning of the health system.

In this episode, Mr. Dawson and I talk about the value of human-centered design and why it is necessary for constructive and cost-effective healthcare innovation. We look at some of the barriers and imperatives for designing solutions that meet the health needs of patients and families while also creating supportive, human-centered work environments for healthcare team members. Finally, Mr. Dawson...

In this episode, Dr. Howell and I talk about how he and his fellow clinicians shifted rapidly to virtual care when COVID-19 struck. We look at the importance of a whole-team based approach during any transition, as well as the way that Dr. Howell and others are re-examining care processes in the wake of the COVID-19 disruption. Finally, we look at the role of culture and mission in driving meaning...

In this episode, Dr. Alexanian and I talk about the rapid adoption of virtual care during the COVID-19 pandemic from the providers’ perspective. We look at the challenges to adopting new technologies and adapting to the circumstances of the pandemic. And we look at how support from fellow physicians paves the way to a practice approach that supports professional fulfillment.

In this episode, Dr. Hart and I discuss his approach to integrating equity into core quality and safety work. We examine why that integration is so important and delve into some of the specific approaches he and the organization are following to make that a reality. Dr. Hart outlines a newly revamped root cause analysis process that adds equity as an explicit focus.

In this episode, Dr. Kneeland and I look at the impact of COVID-19 on home care services. There’s been enormous focus on telehealth as a response to the pandemic, but providing acute care in the home has also been a critical lifeline for patients with both urgent and chronic care needs. In addition to the care model, we delve into the professional implications for well-being and satisfaction that...

In this episode of the Caring Greatly™ Podcast, Ms. Diamond and I talk about the impact of COVID-19 on the Bridgeport (Conn.) community. Bridgeport is a racially and ethnically diverse community with a poverty rate double that of the Connecticut average. Despite this, Bridgeport Hospital had lower than expected COVID mortality among its black and Latinx patients. We delve into the importance of co...

In this episode of the Caring Greatly™ Podcast, Dr. Hill and I delve into the history of systemic racism in society and medicine, and how that leads to distrust today. Dr. Hill shares both historical examples as well as more recent instances where racism and inequity have led to health disparities, including those witnessed in the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Hill advocates for inclusion and partnership...

In this episode of the Caring Greatly™ Podcast, Mr. Mills shares the challenges of leading a health system through the pandemic. We talk about the perspective he gained by his experience in the community, and the critical importance of communication as the financial, process, and health uncertainties of the COVID-19 response.